News / National
Chiwenga faces uncertain future?
14 Nov 2017 at 07:21hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantine Chiwenga's employment contract is about to expire or has already expired amid indications President Robert Mugabe will not renew it.
The expiry of the contract would give Mugabe a golden opportunity to remove Chiwenga, a strong ally of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is battling with First Lady Grace over the veteran leader's succession.
Asked to comment on Chiwenga's contract status, Defence secretary Martin Rushwaya referred questions to the Defence Services Commission (DSC).
DSC secretary Pretty Sunguro could, however, not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
Mugabe last year said he had extended the terms of office of service chiefs after the formation of the unity government in 2009 to fight political battles, particularly the opposition MDC.
Security sector reform during the unity government era and clarity on the role of the military in the new constitution were necessitated by the army's interference in politics, especially during election periods.
Military sources said while Mugabe was keeping his cards close to his chest with regards to Chiwenga's tenure in the army, indications are that he would not renew the contract.
"In this scheme of things, Chiwenga's contract issue has now become a thorny issue for the President. A balancing act has to be struck in handling this sensitive matter," a source said. "Chiwenga is likely to remain at work without a contract for political reasons even though that might be illegal."
Officials, however, say Mugabe has become uncomfortable with Chiwenga's political manoeuvres and dabbling in Zanu-PF succession politics.
Military sources say should Mugabe decide not to extend Chiwenga's contract, Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, could replace him although Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri is the preferred candidate on political considerations.
Sources say Mugabe, whose wife Grace is leading the G40 faction, is not happy that Chiwenga is meddling in Zanu-PF succession wars siding with Mnangagwa.
Besides Chiwenga, Mnangagwa also enjoys the support of the bulk of top military bosses and war veterans. The army and war veterans have been Mnangagwa's pillar of strength in his battle with the G40 faction, with war veterans in particular standing up to Grace's manoeuvres.
The military's involvement in politics has irked the First Lady, she openly accused military bosses of plotting to bomb her dairy in Mazowe. She once alleged that the army was plotting to kill her last born son Bellarmine to instil fear in the First Family.
Her remarks stoked up tensions between the army and the First Family, forcing Mugabe to hold a number of meetings with military bosses over the issue and to address the nation on state television.
In December 2015, while addressing the Zanu-PF conference in Victoria Falls, Mugabe lambasted security service chiefs for interfering in his party's internal affairs and succession, saying: "The military, police and the intelligence are now involved and split as well. Let's stop this. We do not want factions. Nobody has people. We are all Zanu-PF."
After Mugabe's remarks at the conference, security chiefs sought an emergency meeting with him the same day in Victoria Falls to explain themselves, clear the air and reaffirm their political neutrality.
In 2014, in the aftermath of the 2013 polls, Mugabe gave a new lease of life to military generals, many of whom were nearing the retirement age of 60 when he gazetted a statutory instrument extending the retirement age for freedom fighters within senior ranks in the army to 65.
According to Statutory Instruments 134 and 135 of 2014, the new regulations by the Defence Forces Service Commission now allow officers who either are war veterans or have served continuously to retire at the age of 65.
"Provided that a member who is a war veteran as defined in the War Veterans Act (Chapter 11:15) (No 11 of 1992) shall continue to serve for further periods, not exceeding twelve months at a time, until he or she retains the age of sixty-five years," the regulations say.
"A member who has continued to serve in terms of subsection (5) shall retire on attaining the age of sixty-five years."
The expiry of the contract would give Mugabe a golden opportunity to remove Chiwenga, a strong ally of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is battling with First Lady Grace over the veteran leader's succession.
Asked to comment on Chiwenga's contract status, Defence secretary Martin Rushwaya referred questions to the Defence Services Commission (DSC).
DSC secretary Pretty Sunguro could, however, not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
Mugabe last year said he had extended the terms of office of service chiefs after the formation of the unity government in 2009 to fight political battles, particularly the opposition MDC.
Security sector reform during the unity government era and clarity on the role of the military in the new constitution were necessitated by the army's interference in politics, especially during election periods.
Military sources said while Mugabe was keeping his cards close to his chest with regards to Chiwenga's tenure in the army, indications are that he would not renew the contract.
"In this scheme of things, Chiwenga's contract issue has now become a thorny issue for the President. A balancing act has to be struck in handling this sensitive matter," a source said. "Chiwenga is likely to remain at work without a contract for political reasons even though that might be illegal."
Officials, however, say Mugabe has become uncomfortable with Chiwenga's political manoeuvres and dabbling in Zanu-PF succession politics.
Military sources say should Mugabe decide not to extend Chiwenga's contract, Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, could replace him although Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri is the preferred candidate on political considerations.
Sources say Mugabe, whose wife Grace is leading the G40 faction, is not happy that Chiwenga is meddling in Zanu-PF succession wars siding with Mnangagwa.
Besides Chiwenga, Mnangagwa also enjoys the support of the bulk of top military bosses and war veterans. The army and war veterans have been Mnangagwa's pillar of strength in his battle with the G40 faction, with war veterans in particular standing up to Grace's manoeuvres.
The military's involvement in politics has irked the First Lady, she openly accused military bosses of plotting to bomb her dairy in Mazowe. She once alleged that the army was plotting to kill her last born son Bellarmine to instil fear in the First Family.
Her remarks stoked up tensions between the army and the First Family, forcing Mugabe to hold a number of meetings with military bosses over the issue and to address the nation on state television.
In December 2015, while addressing the Zanu-PF conference in Victoria Falls, Mugabe lambasted security service chiefs for interfering in his party's internal affairs and succession, saying: "The military, police and the intelligence are now involved and split as well. Let's stop this. We do not want factions. Nobody has people. We are all Zanu-PF."
After Mugabe's remarks at the conference, security chiefs sought an emergency meeting with him the same day in Victoria Falls to explain themselves, clear the air and reaffirm their political neutrality.
In 2014, in the aftermath of the 2013 polls, Mugabe gave a new lease of life to military generals, many of whom were nearing the retirement age of 60 when he gazetted a statutory instrument extending the retirement age for freedom fighters within senior ranks in the army to 65.
According to Statutory Instruments 134 and 135 of 2014, the new regulations by the Defence Forces Service Commission now allow officers who either are war veterans or have served continuously to retire at the age of 65.
"Provided that a member who is a war veteran as defined in the War Veterans Act (Chapter 11:15) (No 11 of 1992) shall continue to serve for further periods, not exceeding twelve months at a time, until he or she retains the age of sixty-five years," the regulations say.
"A member who has continued to serve in terms of subsection (5) shall retire on attaining the age of sixty-five years."
Source - theindependent
